Maravi

Specialist calls for a change in farming systems

Specialist calls for a change in farming systems
Written by Lawrence Kabutu in Kabwe
Sunday, September 06, 2009 6:59:33 PM

CHIEF agricultural specialist under land husbandry in the Ministry of agriculture and Cooperatives Martin Sishekanu has called for a change in farming systems if crop yields are to be improved in the country.

Presenting a paper on conservation agriculture in Zambia in Kabwe at Zannet Lodge, Sishekanu said the current 1.2 to 1.3 metric tonnes per hectare of maize were far too low.

He bemoaned that the low crop production levels which he said could only be reversed by changing farming systems through the use of conservation agriculture.

Sishekanu noted that 95 per cent of the cultivated land in Zambia was under rain-fed agriculture characterised by poor productivity.

He explained that crop yields could be increased by reserving crop residues in the fields in a bid to improve soil fertility, organic matter content and moisture retention among other strategies in conservation agriculture.

Sishekanu said that conservation agriculture adoption was not impressive because of the crop and livestock conflict which had not been resolved.

He pointed out that 4.8 million to 10 million of land was under livestock, which was grazing crop residues that were beneficial in conservation agriculture.

Sishekanu, responding to a question on what should be done following free range communal grazing of livestock on crop residues, said live fencing could be an alternative to protect crop residues if conservation agriculture was to be promoted.

He clarified that the farming communities should change the farming systems by looking after their animals to ensure that they didn't graze crop residues.

Sishekanu implored agriculture information officers to contribute towards improved and increased yields among conservation agriculture farmers of up to three times in maize production through the mass media that included electronic and print media programmes and articles.

He disclosed that research had indicated that yields had improved through conservation agriculture by 60 to 70 per cent in maize production, 40 to 60 per cent in cotton yields and 40 to 50 per cent in legume crop yields.

Labels: CONSERVATION FARMIING, FARMING, MARTIN SISHEKANU

posted by MrK @ 6:01 PM